Page 9 of The Secrets Behind Us

Sitting in the straddle position, I stretch my legs; I look up into the mirror and find Dexter watching me. Not just watching me but taking me all in and by the heated look on his face, I know I’m not the only one being affected by this crazy chemistry that seems to surround us.

A giddy feeling runs through my body as hope flares in my chest. I know it’s going to be hard to convince him and it’s going to involve a lot of groveling. But I still have a chance and that’s worth something. This time I don’t give into the need to talk with Dexter and make him see my side of things. I just ignore him and get back to my stretches.

Just as I finish stretching, Mateo walks over to me with a blank expression. “How was your workout?”

My brows pull together in confusion. Why the hell does he care how my workout was?

"I own the gym,” he replies as if he knew what I was thinking.

My eyes widen, and I smack him on the shoulder. “Wow. Impressive.”

Mateo's never been a big smiler, but I do get a small smirk. “Thank you.”

He glances over at Dexter and then looks back at me. There's a glint in his eye that I can’t quite read.

“You know if you want me to train you, I can.”

I let out a laugh, understanding what the glint was about. The idea of Mateo training me is hilarious. We would never survive each other. He’s too bossy and I’m too stubborn. “Are you trying to make him jealous?”

His eyes soften in the corners just a tiny bit as he runs a hand over his jaw. “Maybe. Sometimes as a big brother I’ve got to step in. I know he misses you.”

My heart swells with emotion. So many emotions it's so hard to decipher exactly what is going on in my mind. Part of me feels sad and happy that Dexter could miss me, maybe I have a chance in hell to get him to forgive me. The other part of me is full of love and happiness to know that Mateo is in his corner, ready to support him.

Mateo instantly pulls his mask of indifference back on and leans into my space when he hits me with his sharp tone. “But if you hurt him again, I will not stand back this time.”

“I get it.” I swallow and take a step back.

A quick glance at the clock makes me realize I’ve spent more time here at the gym than I anticipated. “I have to go and take my mom to her doctor's appointment in a little bit.”

“I’m sorry to hear about your mom and her cancer.” His voice rings with sincerity.

I let out a small gasp. “How did you know?”

He shrugs. “It’s a small-town, Hazel. Word gets around fast.”

“Yeah. I forgot about that.”

My eyes well with tears but I don’t let them fall. I turn to leave as I whisper, “Thank you.”

I step up on my tippy toes and give him a hug, which makes him stiffen. The Hernandez brothers don't show emotion. They really don't let anyone in. They have walls a million miles high around them but when they do, they've let you in for life.

I try not to laugh out loud. If he’s going to play games so can I. Besides its the second time he’s subtly threatened me, he deserves whatever nonsense Dexter gives him.

I let go and walk out the door of the gym, the whole-time keeping eye contact with a pissed off Dexter.

Chapter seven

Dexter

My whole body locks up as I watch Hazel hug my older brother and then sashay out the door. My eyes never leave her until she’s out of view and safely in her car. I march over to Mateo, stopping right in front of him as he busies himself with something at the front desk. He gives me a sly smile when he looks up and sees me. All I want to do is smack that smug look right off his ugly face.

“What the fuck was that about?” I start with my interrogation.

“What are you talking about?” Mateo asks as he pulls his brows down, as if he's confused by what I'm asking him.

“You know exactly what I’m talking about. You and Hazel.” I say as I push my finger into the center of his chest.

Suddenly he seems to remember what I'm referring to, because he waves his hand away. “Oh that. I was just offering up my time in case she wanted to sign up for personal training.”

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